Moderate

Grassland

Submitted by dshannon on

Grassland is a natural community group that broadly characterizes several distinct natural communities. Grassland broadly includes: Bracken Grassland, Dry Prairie, Dry-mesic Prairie, Mesic Prairie, Sand Prairie, Wet Prairie, Wet-mesic prairie natural communities. Grasslands with high floral diversity that occur within large open landscapes may fare best: plants may shift locations and composition may fluctuate over time based on responses to climatic variables. This adaptive capacity is further enhanced if a site has (micro)topographical diversity.

Lowland and Riparian Hardwood

Submitted by Maria on

A range of forested wetlands found in depressions and low-lying areas, along waterways, and in floodplains. These forests are heavily influenced by local hydrology, with plant communities that reflect the occurrence of seasonal flooding, erosion, groundwater seepage, or other local dynamics. Better-drained soils may support a variety of hardwood species suited to local conditions, often dominated by pin oak, swamp white oak, shagbark hickory, and sweetgum.

Northern hardwoods

Submitted by sdhandler on

Forests are composed largely of sugar and red maple. Eastern hemlock, yellow birch, basswood, red oak, and black cherry are common associates, found in varying amounts based upon site conditions.

Jack pine

Submitted by sdhandler on

Stands are generally dominated by jack pine, with some composed primarily of mixed pine species or occasionally Scotch pine. Oak species may be co-dominant in some stands.

North-central interior beech/maple forest

Submitted by dshannon on

"This forest ecosystem is primarily found in the glaciated portion of Ohio, where varying microtopography and moisture regimes create mixed communities of upland and lowland species. Common species include sugar maple, American beech, northern red oak, American basswood, eastern hemlock, black cherry, tulip tree, red maple, white ash, and eastern hophornbeam."

Mixed mesophytic and cove forest

Submitted by dshannon on

This forest is mostly limited to West Virginia and consists of hardwood or hemlock-hardwoods in sheltered topographic positions, often on concave slopes or in areas with high precipitation. Common species include sugar maple, white ash, American basswood, yellow buckeye, tulip tree, red maple, eastern hemlock, cucumbertree, American beech, sweet birch, northern red oak, black cherry, mountain magnolia, and black oak.

Mesic bottomland forest

Submitted by dshannon on

Mesic bottomland forests are characterized by short, infrequent floods and mesic soil conditions. Dominant species include white and bur oak, sugar maple, American and slippery elm, bitternut hickory, black walnut, pecan, sycamore, hackberry, river birch, sweetgum, and beech.

Lowland-riparian hardwoods

Submitted by sdhandler on

Lowland and riparian hardwoods occur on alluvial soils or impermeable clay layers that are seasonally or annually inundated or saturated. Common tree species include red maple, northern white-cedar, silver maple, black ash, and green ash.

Northern hardwoods

Submitted by sdhandler on

Northern hardwoods occur on mesic soils that provide consistent moisture and nutrients. Gap-sized disturbances are common, but stand-replacing events are very infrequent. Common species include sugar maple, red maple, American beech, American basswood, and eastern hemlock.